WAI-ARIA: Role=Table

A section containing data arranged in rows and columns

Description

New in ARIA 1.1

A section containing data arranged in rows and columns.

The table role is intended for tabular containers which are not interactive. If the tabular container maintains a selection state, provides its own two-dimensional navigation, or allows the user to rearrange or otherwise manipulate its contents or the display thereof, authors SHOULD use grid or treegrid instead.

Authors SHOULD prefer the use of the host language’s semantics for table whenever possible, such as the HTML table element.

Screen reader Support For Role=Table

Role=Table Example

HTML5 Example

<table role="table"><thead><!-- etc --></thead><tbody><!-- etc --></tbody></table>

Characteristics

Superclass Role

• section

Subclass Roles 

• grid

Base Concept

• HTML table

Required Owned Elements

• row
• rowgroup → row

Supported States and Properties

• aria-colcount
• aria-rowcount

Inherited States and Properties 

• aria-atomic
• aria-busy (state)
• aria-controls
• aria-current (state)
• aria-describedby
• aria-details
• aria-disabled (state)
• aria-dropeffect
• aria-errormessage
• aria-expanded (state)
• aria-flowto
• aria-grabbed (state)
• aria-haspopup
• aria-hidden (state)
• aria-invalid (state)
• aria-keyshortcuts
• aria-label
• aria-labelledby
• aria-live
• aria-owns
• aria-relevant
• aria-roledescription

Name From 

• author

Accessible Name Required

• True

Semantic HTML

Use the HTML <table> tag.

The table roles are meant to handle constructs where a non-interactive data table is needed when the underlying markup does not use a standard HTML table element. This construct is static and is not meant to be interactive in the same way that role=”grid” is used.<table>
<caption>Delivery slots:</caption>
<tr>
<td></td>
<th scope="col">Monday</th>
<th scope="col">Tuesday</th>
<th scope="col">Wednesday</th>
<th scope="col">Thursday</th>
<th scope="col">Friday</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">09:00 - 11:00</th>
<td>Closed</td>
<td>Open</td>
<td>Open</td>
<td>Closed</td>
<td>Closed</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">11:00 - 13:00</th>
<td>Open</td>
<td>Open</td>
<td>Closed</td>
<td>Closed</td>
<td>Closed</td>
</tr>
[…]
</table>

Reference

• WAI-ARIA 1.2 Specification
  Refer to the notes from the WAI-ARIA 1.2 specification for more information on role=table.
• A11Y Support
  The screenreader compatibility for each of the ARIA attributes is taken from the A11Y Support. Please refer to the original source if screenreader compatibility is updated for role=table.